The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 1

In her previous life, she had never once known a shred of love from the Iverson family. In the end, they were the ones who killed her.

She'd already paid for her life—with her life, to the Iversons.

She didn't owe them a thing anymore.

"Stop right there."

The man's voice was icy, every word carrying the weight and command of someone used to being obeyed.

Citrine glanced back at her so-called big brother, Norton Iverson.

"Out of my way!"

"That's how you talk to your brother?" Norton's gaze turned frosty. He stormed forward, grabbing Citrine's wrist in a tight grip, as if he couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth.

Sure, his little sister had always been scheming, but she'd never dared to talk back before.

Brother? He actually thought he deserved the title?

The hypocrisy made Citrine's skin crawl. Disgust flickered across her eyes.

"Let go. You're filthy." She jerked her arm free with such force that it was as if she'd just touched something disgusting.

Norton hadn't expected her to be so strong—he almost lost his balance. Rage flared across his face. "Citrine, what's gotten into you?"

"You pushed Jeanette down the stairs and nearly killed her. Is it really so hard to admit you were wrong? Is this how a real sister behaves? How can you be so cruel?"

Nearly killed Jeanette?

That's what they called "almost dying"?

By that measure, Citrine figured she'd have died a thousand times already.

She didn't doubt for a second that, if Jeanette weren't here, Clifford would've hit her already.

That violent brute—he was only holding back to avoid frightening his precious sister.

Citrine let out a cold laugh. Of all the Iversons, Clifford was the one she despised most. "And what are you supposed to be? What are any of you? You call this malice?"

She strode up to the hospital bed before anyone could react and, without warning, slapped Jeanette across the face.

Her voice dripped with mockery. "There. That's what real malice looks like."

The slap felt good. For the first time in ages, she felt a little lighter inside.

Before Jeanette, the so-called real daughter, had come back, Norton and Clifford had both been adopted by Sawyer. Back then, they'd doted on Citrine as their beloved little sister. But in the end, they'd each driven a knife into her heart. To her, they were all abusers.

Citrine moved so quickly that no one had time to stop her.